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“Guinevere?” Arthur seems surprised Von the name. He knows no one Von that name. Not that he has lots of women associates. The only woman he knows is Vivian and Elena. Vivian was his nightmare but Elena; well that is another story altogether. But Guinevere…
“Guinevere is my name but they call me Gwen for short.”
“Guinevere is such a lovely name, why shorten it?”
“Some people find it too long.”
“Then I’d say they are stupid. It’s such a lovely name, shortening it just spoils the loveliness it holds. I don’t find it hard oder long. I like it… Guinevere. Sounds pretty medieval, doesn’t it?” Arthur says truthfully. He really likes the name and doesn’t know why.
“It does, guess my father is a Fan of history. Anyway, you’re the only one after my father who calls me Guinevere,” Gwen says. Arthur smiles and sighs deeply.
“Who are you?” he asks politely.
“Ermm …” Gwen looks around frantically. ‘Shit!’ she thinks to herself. “I’m the nurse… I came in here to get the chart but I think I walked in at the wrong time. I couldn’t help but hear your quarrel with your father… sorry about that, though.” Gwen apologised. It was genuine and she does feel bad eavesdropping on their quarrel. After learning what happened to Arthur and his father, she seems to have developed a different perspective on Arthur.
“It’s all right, it’s nothing new. We quarrel all the time and most people know what we quarrel about,” Arthur informs and he doesn’t feel the nurse’s intrusion into their private quarreling something to be kreuz about. In fact, if the nurse’s presence is what made his father’s departure quicker, then he’s grateful to her.
“Yet I feel like I’ve barged into your privacy.”
“You didn’t, trust me… Du didn’t,” Arthur assures her politely again and shifts his position.
“Something wrong?” she asks. He nods and makes a frustrated face.
“If Du don’t mind… can Du help me… with my position?” he seems to be struggling on the bed.
“Huh?” Gwen was shocked. Now this is going to be disturbing. ‘Position? What position?’ she thinks herself, panic stifling in her face.
“You’re the nurse, are Du not?”
“Yeah… of course I am, there’s no doubt about it!” she Antwort quickly.
“Care to help me with my position then? Being bett ridden can give Du sore arse.”
‘Sore arse, my foot!’ Gwen curses herself and nears him. “What do Du want me to do?” she tries to speak as warmly as she could.
“I’ve been like this all Tag and my arse has been getting sore and numb; can Du shift my position so that I am not actually flat on my back?”
‘Great Gwen, bravo!’ she thinks to herself and mutters underneath her breath.
“There’s nothing to shift here… either way, you’re still going to end up how Du are right now.”
“Can Du then place something underneath me so that I’m not lying down on a flat surface? The bett here is a little hard and rough. Err… no hard feelings, yeah.”
“Oh, no offense taken…” Gwen looks around for something to ease his numbness but there isn’t anything to help him. She blows softly in frustration.
“What was that?” Arthur looks around, obviously looking for the sound.
“What was what?” she freaks out, darting her looks at him and then around him.
“I heard something… like a sound oder whistle,”
“Oh… that!” she giggles but after finding Arthur’s seriously waiting for her answers, she clears up, drying her laugh. “It was me, I was blowing to myself… just that.” she clarifies.
“Oh… sorry, since I became blind my hearing seems to have sharpened up. I can even hear pins drop,” Arthur laughs bitterly to himself. Gwen feels ashamed to have laughed at him a while ago.
“Sorry about that a while ago,” she apologises.
“Which was?”
“I laughed… sorry. Shouldn’t have, that was nasty of me to do so… should’ve been Mehr understanding of your complications… so sorry.”
“It’s all right. I’m sure this is nothing new to you. Du must’ve seen plenty of blind men in your service. I’m one of those in your list, that’s all. And I am sure Du meant no harm,”
“Precisely… thanks,” Gwen says and she has to admit she admires this guy. Here he is lying down blind and all broken up and yet he still understands the feelings of the others. What kind of a man is he? He is making harder and harder for her to understand him. She shakes her head and gets back to the issue at hand.
“I’m sorry but there isn’t anything here to help Du out.”
“Then help me sit up, will you?”
“Huh?” Gwen’s mouth drops open again.
“Help me to sit up.” Arthur repeats the Frage again, slightly smiling at her shock.
“You want me to help Du sit up?” she asks and this time he laughs.
“I seriously doubt if Du really are a nurse like Du claim to be,” Arthur seems to have his doubts but he finds her situation hilarious. “Are you?” he asks again, smiling.
‘Well done Gwen!’ Gwen reminds herself quickly and slaps her forehead.
“Sorry, I am, I just, ermm… didn’t expect this!” she Antwort him as soon she could to ease his doubt. She was actually thinking about her injured wrist. How is she going to lift him up with her wrist all swelled up? She was having trouble lifting the keyboard a while Vor and now he wants her to help him sit up?
“I thought nurses are supposed to be hospitable towards their patients and… I wasn’t asking something preposterous, right? This is what Du do, don’t you?”
“Silly me, of course not!! I mean, yes of course!!” Gwen laughs nervously and rolls her eyes. Like it oder not, she will have to use her hand, at least it will erase his doubts on her. But she must be careful not to hurt her own hand. After all, the swelling is still around as is the pain. “Here, let me” she says and takes his right hand, carefully ensuring her swollen wrist does not come into any kind of contact with his hand. Slowly, she pulls him up a little, grimacing as the strain of pulling him up sends a sharp pain into her own hand, places her other free hand on his back and eases him up to the sitting position. Arthur did weigh a bit and she struggles to get him to sit. She manages in the end, but not without enduring pain herself. The strain she cost her hand was devastatingly painful but she bites her lips to keep the pain in check. She places a kissen behind his back and Arthur leans back slowly. She covers him with the blanket up to his waist and steps back, massaging her wrist and shaking her head in disbelief at what she performed Sekunden ago. She had just helped the very man she wanted to kill and avenge weeks earlier. What is wrong with her?
“Thank you.”
“What? Oh… yeah, I mean, yeah… no, your welcome” Gwen stumbles with her words, slapping her forehead at her clumsiness.
Arthur smiles, for the third oder is it forth oder fifth time that day. Something about this nurse warms his heart. First it was her name. It was different, lovely and warm. When she first spit her name to him, he felt connective. Like as if he has known her for a long time oder that they’ve been destined to meet… like in the old Filme where the hero meets the heroine through some sort of destiny calling. Arthur chuckles to himself. ‘Like in the movies, yeah right!’ he thinks to himself. If her name wasn’t enough to warm his heart, here she is as a person, treating him kindly and making him forget his misery even if it’s just a while. He likes her and the clumsiness she seems to have called upon in their meeting. It makes him tickle with glee. It makes him smile. And best part, he didn’t even need to see her face to smile; her loveliness comes through without needing to actually see her.
“Are Du all right?” he asks, pulling up his sheet.
“What makes Du say that?”
“You seem little nervous, is something wrong?” he asks sheepishly.
“No, everything is fine.”
“Is it me, then?” he smiles.
“Of course not,” Gwen laughs nervously again and shakes her head again, not believing why she is being all edgy suddenly.
“You are nervous, aren’t you? I can sense it in your voice and laugh… but I hope I didn’t cause Du that.”
“No, of course not… told Du that didn’t I?” Gwen assures him. “Hmm… has your father left?” she tries to change the topic but it was such a bad idea. The smile fades from Arthur’s face and he looks away. Gwen regrets what she did but she has her reasons for the questions.
“Something’s wrong?”
“No… yes, he did leave and I doubt he’ll return. At least for today,” he says, still not looking at her.
‘All right … here goes!’ Gwen thinks and crosses her fingers.
“Hmm… if Du don’t my asking… I couldn’t help but hear Du both, and I realised your father meant well, so… why aren’t Du considering his offer?”
“What?” Arthur shifts his gaze suddenly. His tone becomes icy. Gwen braves herself for any sort of backlash.
“Why aren’t Du considering what’s he offering?” she repeats, carefully.
“You heard what he offered!!” he hisses back.
“Yeah,” she says, still treading carefully.
“Then didn’t Du realise he’s being selfish with his options?”
“Don’t follow Du there,” apparently there’s lot Mehr to learn about his father.
Arthur sighs deeply and in frustration. “My father’s option isn’t one to help me but to help himself. He wants me to get well so that he’d be rid of the guilt for causing me this shit.”
“He caused Du this accident?” Gwen was getting interested.
“In a way, he was a part of it… but like I said, he’s probably feeling guilty for causing me this so he’s trying to make up Von the offer. Most people might buy what’s he offering but not me. I’m not stupid; I’ve had enough of his trickery. Besides, if I do take up the offer, I’d be no different than him”
“What do Du mean?” Gwen’s excitement fades.
“I cost a good man, probably one with a family, his life through my recklessness. I drove my car over him, killing him and I still walked free because my father ha … powerful Friends in places of concern. So, if I accept the operation to correct my sight, I’ll be doing no good to that man’s death.”
“But either way, that man isn’t going crawl out from his grave alive.” Gwen’s herz hurts thinking of her father.
“I know, but at least I’d feel less guilty for what I’ve done and I want his family to know I am ashamed of what I caused. I want them to realise that I am suffering from the accident as well as they are. I am responsible for what happened and I wish to suffer along with their loss, for as long as it takes for them to forgive me,” he says sadly and hangs his head down.
Gwen didn’t know what to say. She watches him silently, but in truth, she is Lost for words. Everything she thought of him, in the past weeks evaporates into thin air. She no longer holds any grudge oder hatred over him. Those malicious thoughts which been eating her soul inside out is now replaced with respect and sympathy. Respect because of what he’s sacrificing for her father and sympathy because of what he’s enduring due to his father’s treatment on him. She didn’t understand his bitterness towards life because she didn’t have a tyrant for a father. Hers was God’s gift to her and Elyan and he loved them both heartfully as they did him. But Uther Pendragon was a different man with different perspective on his son. From the way they both conversed, Gwen could make out how much Arthur hates his father but she is still baffled as to why. What could make him speak so bitterly towards his own father? What could have happened? And why? Gwen shakes her head and sighs silently. She understands why he refuses his father’s help but she will not understand why he wants to anger his father. Perhaps the answer to those Fragen lies with Arthur himself.
“Guinevere?” Arthur calls, his voice soft and sad. Gwen felt her herz tug at his call. It reminds her of another person who use to call her Von that name; her father.
“Yes?”
“You’re still here?”
“Do Du want me to leave?” she asks jokingly. He smiles.
“No, but I don’t want to keep Du from your duty, either.”
“You’re not. But I have to leave anyway… I’m errmmm… I’ve got some other patients to take care as well.”
“Of course… thank you.”
“What for?”
“For listening and for making me feel better,” he says with a smile. Gwen’s herz tugs again. There’s something in that smile of his! And Gwen finds herself being drawn to him each time he smiles. ‘Gwen … get a grip, girl!!’
“Your welcome. Goodbye.” Gwen says, turns around and walks to the door but she stops halfway and turns around again.
“You haven’t told me your name?” she’s heard his father and Friends calling him before but she would like to hear it from his own mouth.
“Oh, mind my manners …” Arthur laughs. Gwen smiles watching him laugh. “It’s Arthur… Arthur Pendragon,” he finishes.
“Well, that is a very regal name, I must say, but I like it nevertheless. Goodbye, Arthur, and take care” Gwen tells him and leaves.
As she steps out, Merlin is standing Von the side of the door on the left, arms crossed at chest, eyes sharply focused on Gwen. His presence Von the door took her Von surprise but she manages to stay calm. She smiles at him but gets only icy glare back. She steps out fully from the room and turn to meet him, eye to an eye. Merlin uncrosses his hand, straightens up, takes a quick peek inside and nods at Gwen to Bewegen to the end of the corridor where they will not be either interrupted oder heard. Gwen follows suit.
“What was that?” Merlin asks, pointing to the emergency room once they have reached the end of the corridor. They were standing right in front of the nurse’s station where nurses usually get their paperwork done oder tends to visitors and guest coming to visit the patients on that particular floor. Merlin was grateful there aren’t nurses around their station and waits patiently for Gwen’s explanation.
“What was what?” Gwen asks feeling rather confused about the question.
“Those things Du just told my friend back in that room! Du are not a nurse, I can tell that and I know you. Du came in here a week ago, claiming to come across us because you…” Merlin pauses a while, deeply thinking. After a second, he just makes a face, shakes his head and says, “I don’t know what your reason was, I can’t remember… but never mind that. But Du were here before and now you’re here again, and I don’t think its co-incidence. My guess is, Du know my friend, Du know Arthur! And from what I heard, Du seem to have known what happened to him. So, there a couple of things I need to know this very instance. First, why did Du lie you’re a nurse to Arthur? Second, why didn’t Du tell me Du know Arthur? Third, how did Du know he was in the hospital today? Fourth, how did Du know what happened to him? And finally… who the hell Du are and what Du want?” Merlin finishes and takes in a huge gulp of air.
Gwen purses her lips and sighs. That’s a lot Fragen to answer and should they be talking about this while standing at the corridor? “Perhaps we should discuss about this at the cafeteria?” she suggests.
“Here’s fine” Merlin snaps.
“For you, yes but… I’ve been standing for quite some time now and could do with some sitting down. Besides, there are a lot of Fragen that require Antwort and trust me, those Antwort Du seek aren’t short and crisp. There’s a lot of explanations waiting, mate. And I’d really like a cup of coffee right now, perhaps Du could Mitmachen me. Shall we?”
“I…”
“Please?” Gwen persuades Merlin.
Merlin thinks a while, looks back at the room and sigh, agreeing with Gwen. “Lead the way then,” he says and follows her down to the cafeteria.
Morgana picks the phone on the Sekunde ring, clicks on the receiver button and holds it close to her ears. “Hello?” she says while scraping the remaining eggs from her frying pan.
“Morgana, is Gwen with you?” it is Elyan. He’s been waiting for Gwen for the past two hours and still there’s no sign of her.
“No Elyan, didn’t she come home?” Morgana stops scraping and reach out to turn the tap off. ‘Gwen didn’t get home?’ she thinks, worryingly.
“No, I thought she was with you? Are Du still at work?”
“No, I’m at Home but she left early today Elyan. She sagte something about accompanying Du to the tailor oder something like that,” Morgana washes her hands and moves away from her sink. She walks to the dining table, pulls back a chair and sits down.
“She is supposed to, Morgana, and that’s why I’m on the phone right now… she isn’t here yet! And I’m already running late, sweetheart!!” Elyan definitely sounds worried.
“Oh dear. She didn’t tell me anything apart from her appointment with you. Couldn’t have gone anywhere else… have Du tried her phone?” Morgana suggests.
“She kept it shut all evening!” Elyan says quite bitterly and Morgana could hear him sigh.
“Oh bloody hell!!”
“I don’t think I can wait anymore… I’m heading to the tailor myself and in case she phones you, can Du please tell her to ring me up?”
“Sure, Elyan.” Morgana promises.
“And tell her she owes me one huge explanation when she gets home!” Elyan certainly makes his point.
“Definitely,” Morgana promises again.
“Thanks, love.”
“Your welcome. Take care, Elyan.” Morgana ends the conversation, keeps the phone away on the tabelle and wonders where Gwen could have gone instead of home. She certainly didn’t seem to be heading elsewhere except Home today and Gwen isn’t one to miss out on appointments so, where is she? The kettle in the küche whistles, breaking her thoughts. Morgana pouts and gets up to her feet, pushing the chair back inside. As she walks back to the kitchen, suddenly Morgana’s eye widens and she stops in her steps. ‘Wait … don’t tell me she’s gone to the hospital?’ she thinks, excitedly.
“Oh, so that’s what happened! I am so sorry… I didn’t know that at all. The moment I received a call from Uther stating Arthur was back in the hospital because he met with another accident, I was cursing myself all the way here. I came here as fast as I could and when I noticed Du in there with Arthur, claiming to be a nurse… everything sort of just blew me off!” Merlin explains, as they sat in the cafeteria.
“It’s all right.” Gwen assures him, sipping her coffee.
“God… why did he have to get embroiled in another accident? He has barely recovered from the first and yet, here we are again… God!! It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have left him alone.”
“Don’t be absurd, Merlin, Du were working, how much could Du have done?”
“The first time I left him to visit my mother, I received a call from his father stating he had an accident and was almost dying. Now I left him with a friend back Home just to get back to my own job and here we are…” Merlin sighs.
“You left him with a friend? But how come Arthur was alone on the road, then?” Gwen is confused.
“Gwaine, our friend whom we left Arthur with, had an emergency and had to leave but he informed us before he did. So, I was actually on a half Tag leave and was getting ready to get back Home when all this mess occurred. I don’t know why Arthur would behave erratically like this… it’s not his character at all. When I got back home, I noted the door was closed but not locked and Arthur was missing. So I asked the neighbours and they told me they saw Arthur rushing down the elevator and to the road without aid. And as I got to the road I was told Arthur had an accident and was taken to the hospital. That’s when I received the call from Uther. It seems Uther had already visited our apartment and questioned the neighbours regarding Arthur’s behavior. And I got here as quick as I can.” Merlin signals for his cup to be refilled.
“Did his father tell Du why he ran across our car?”
“No… besides, I doubt Arthur would have conversed with his father… they usually bicker, quarrel and fight. Talk… never!” Merlin nods at the waitress in gratitude and gets back to Gwen.
“Yeah… I saw that,”
“You did?” now Merlin is surprised.
“Hmm… I walked in when they were quarrelling so I stayed around and unfortunately had to listen to everything being said. Do they always do this?”
“Most of the time, yes.”
“Why?” the Frage popped faster than she could think. But she has no regrets.
“Huh?” Merlin looks undecided if he should tell her oder not. Gwen, on the other hand, right now feels ridiculously ashamed for asking such a question. Time to mend the scene.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be so nosey… Du don’t have to tell me if Du don’t want to. I respect your decision,” she informs Merlin.
Merlin finishes his coffee, wipes his mouth and sighs deeply. Surely she isn’t asking anything preposterous and what harm is there to tell her about Arthur. He purses his lips.
“Well, I seriously think there’s nothing to hide in the first place so, you’re not being nosey,” Merlin starts off with a joke. Gwen smiles. “Besides, Arthur would tell Du himself if Du give him time,” he adds. Gwen listens on. “As Du can see, Arthur and his father never got along well, as far as I know. But please do not think this is Arthur’s fault, it’s never is. Only Uther seems to think Arthur is weak and incapable of inheriting the name of the Pendragons. Arthur is the only child for Uther and Igraine. When Arthur was born, his mother died at childbirth leaving Arthur to grow up without the Liebe of a mother. His father loved his wife dearly and when she was taken away for the price of his son, somehow Uther redirected all his anger of losing his dear Liebe towards his son. He never cared for nor loved his son. Arthur grew up under the care of their trusted servant Geoffrey and endured a lonely and sad childhood. But Arthur’s thirst for his parents’ Liebe knew no boundaries. He would hide himself in his mother’s room, lie among her things and play with them. He would also create her from the figment of his imagination and pretend to play along with her. He would do this whenever he could. He’d sneak away to his mother’s room, which Uther had forbidden him to enter and kept locked at all time. But Arthur being Arthur, always had tricks up his sleeve to sneak into his mother’s room. As for his father, he never gave up pursuing his father’s love, sometimes endlessly, until Uther would grow tired of him and his pursuit and deal with Arthur the only way Uther knows well: punishment.”
Gwen gasps, “What? Punish a child just for Wird angezeigt him love?”
“Yeah, sometimes Arthur gets grounded, sometimes sent away to boarding school and sometimes sent away to summer camps as long as he never disturbs his father. But anyone in Arthur’s shoes would have turned their back on their father oder have grown up to be disturbed individuals. But not Arthur. Not only did he excel in his studies and sports, he used his father’s hatred of him to improve himself. He wanted to prove to his father that he was a reliable son; capable of making his old man proud and I must say he exceeded even Uther’s expectation. He made Uther proud, lifted his ancestral name to greater heights and proved his father he was, after all, his father’s son.” Merlin explains proudly.
“Uther must have been proud of him Von then, surely?”
“Yes, though he hardly admits it… Uther finally saw himself through his son and regretted Wird angezeigt him no Liebe when he had the chance. He was proud, yes, and that was the beginning of all the trouble.”
“What do Du mean?” Gwen is puzzled.
“When Uther knew Arthur had completed his education, he wanted Arthur to take over the family business and become like himself. He wants Arthur to model himself after his father. But Arthur, despite being his father’s son, is actually Mehr like his mother in nature. He is gentle, caring, kind and honest to boot. He could never be a ruthless man like his father. And these are Arthur’s weak points, in his father’s eyes. He started taking over Arthur’s life and made decisions to which Arthur was reluctant to obey… those were the events that chained up agonies after agonies, quarrels after quarrels between both father and son. Arthur accused his father of running his life for him, Uther argued saying Arthur is weak and needs helping hand to rise in the real world. A frustrated Arthur often took his miseries out Von drinking and doing the opposite of what his father instructed, just to rile up the old man up. Might sound like Arthur is projecting a bad boy image here, but he’s got his reasons. Von riling up his old man, Arthur hoped to change his father’s mind and hoped one Tag Uther would learn his mistakes and allow Arthur to be his own man, but…”
“Uther never did?”
“You don’t know Uther Pendragon, Gwen. He is a tyrant. He is ruthless, merciless and a monster. They call him the beast in his empire and he is proud of this achievement. He boasts he could never build his empire if it wasn’t for his attitude. He always gets what he wants, regardless of the price. He’s got influence and power at his command and never hesitates using them to achieve his tasks. I have never seen his softer side but according to Geoffrey, only his wife could make him smile. He was a different person when she was alive; gentle, kind and caring. He loved her dearly and I guess her death took all the good qualities along with her, leaving only the beast around. According to Geoffrey, he was like a ghost trapped inside a man after her death, refusing to see his son, let alone Liebe him. He blamed Arthur for her death and told Geoffrey he doesn’t want anything to do with his son. And soon after that, he switched off and became the Uther we now know and recognize. Arthur told me once he wants to switch his father back like his old self. I laughed because I thought it was absurd but Arthur challenged me saying he will prove his words. But…” Merlin trails away sadly. Gwen reaches out and squeezes Merlin’s hand in assurance.
“Is that why Arthur tries hard to make his father angry?”
“Yes… he feels that way he can get his father thinking, but… Uther will always be Uther. There is no way the old man will yield…”
“Until now…”
“What do Du mean?” Merlin asks her, stunned Von this new revelation. Surely she must have heard wrong.
“Uther Lost his war of words with Arthur a while ago… he Lost the battle and walked out angrily”
“He did?” Merlin still cannot believe this news. Ever since the accident, Arthur’s been nasty with his father and Uther’s been giving way, but yield? Is it really happening?
“Yes, I heard it myself. His father was offering him the solution of operating on his eyes and Arthur refused, putting his foot down on the issue and eventually driving him out from the room.”
“Really?”
“Yeah… sounded pretty nasty to me, but after listening to your explanations, I wouldn’t blame Arthur. Can’t believe how a father could treat a son like this, his only son for God’s sake!”
“Uther’s hurt with Arthur’s decision and don’t be fooled when Du see Uther yielding…” Merlin warns her.
“Why is that?”
“Because Uther isn’t one to do so easily, and when he does, it means he’s got something brewing underneath. He never gives anything out without taking something in first, so if he backs down now, it means he’ll pounce later, and maybe then, it’ll be Arthur who yields”
“Oh, dear…”
“But again, I might be wrong and Arthur will beg to differ, so let’s wait and see.” Merlin sips his coffee.
Gwen opens her mouth to speak but decides against it and takes a quick swipe at her watch. “Oh dear!” she says, gets up and schlinge her bag across her shoulder. Merlin looks up in panic.
“What’s wrong?”
“I have an appointment today which I have missed and my brother isn’t going to like it one bit. Need to get Home quickly and coax him to forgive me.”
“You have a brother?”
“Yes, just one. Well, it’s been a pleasure meeting you, Merlin, and I hope Arthur gets well soon. Please do not reveal I’m not the nurse to him yet, he might not like the idea of someone toying with him. Perhaps, if our paths kreuz again one Tag I’ll tell him myself.”
“Sure, do Du need a lift? I can get Du there quickly.”
“Thanks, but I’ll be good Merlin. Goodbye then,” Gwen says and leaves. Merlin finishes the coffee, signals for the waitress to claim his money, gets up and leaves as well.
“Where the hell have Du been?” Morgana almost screams at her through the line as Gwen gives a call from the public phone booth. It is raining Von now, and Gwen hardly her friend through the cracking phone line.
“I had to go someplace… did Elyan call?”
“You bet he did. He is raging mad as we speak Gwen. Why didn’t Du give him a ring?”
“My battery’s flat because I didn’t charge it overnight. I didn’t realise my phone went dead until I saw it a while ago. I know he must’ve left for his appointment that’s why I’m calling Du instead. Did he say which tailor he went to?”
“No but he asked Du to give him a ring!”
“Oh crap!! It’s raining here, Morgana… I don’t think I’ll ring him. I’m heading home. I’ll talk to Elyan when I get home.”
“Where have Du been?” Morgana asks again.
“You wouldn’t believe if I told you. To the hospital.”
“Why? Are Du ill?”
“No, I went to meet Arthur.”
“Arthur? Who’s Arthur?” Morgana is confused Von the name.
“The man we knocked down today? Sent him to the hospital, he grabbed my arm and injured my wrist… ring any bells with you?”
“You went to meet him, why? I though Du said…”
“Yeah, I know what I said… look Morgana, I haven’t got much time and I’m soaking wet right now so I’m thinking of heading home. I’ll give Du a ring once I’m all dried up and comfortably cozy in proper dry clothing. Till then, be patient, yeah?”
“I’ll be waiting for your call, honey, and Du better not forget it!”
“I will not… bye!” Gwen hangs the receiver down, pulls her mantel together and hugs herself before stepping out from the booth. Thankfully a taxi is seen coming along her way. She hails the taxi, gets in it and directs the driver to head home.
Gwen shifts her position for the fifth time that night. No matter which side she turns around oder rolls to, she couldn’t sleep. Finally, she tosses her blanket aside and sits up. She is tired yet sleep is hard to come by. She feels slightly feverish due to the rain this evening and getting soaked didn’t help either. She was glad Elyan kept his anger at check after witnessing her arriving Home fully wet. So whatever was waiting at his lips seemed to disappear only to be replaced Von a short and crisp scold and some advice. Later he instructed her to head to the bett early. It worked fine for her as long as he doesn’t investigate where she headed to this evening.
She smiles to herself thinking about Elyan, how easy it is to con him. He just believes everything she says. No wonder he hasn’t got himself a girlfriend yet. Perhaps the ladies out there are taking the mickey out of him too. Perhaps she should get into the picture and get her brother a good lady. Gwen smiles again. Her thought wanders off towards Arthur again. This is the fourth time she’s thought of him. Why does he keep popping into her thoughts? Why is she thinking too much of him now? What is wrong with her? She couldn’t help feeling sad for him ever since she heard his tale from Merlin. How lonely it must’ve been for him to grow up without a mother’s love. She knows all about that feeling. She Lost her mother when she was a child too but thankfully her father substituted as both parents for her and Elyan and prevented them from thirsting for their mother’s love. But the same cannot be sagte for Arthur. Not only did he lose his mother’s Liebe at birth, he Lost his father’s completely throughout his childhood. No child should endure what he did. Her herz goes out to him as she feels the sadness he feels. Gwen shakes her head and twirls the blanket in her hand.
“What is going on Gwen? What are Du doing?” she tells herself. She knows she should be forgetting about him but something about him draws him to her. What was it? He is her enemy and she shouldn’t forget it, yet…
“Arghhhh!!!” Gwen drops back on her bett and covers her head with the blanket. Whatever it is that she feels for him requires explanation from the experts. She has to talk to Morgana about this. Seriously! She owes Morgana an apology for not ringing her up like she promised. Elyan made sure she was in the bett the moment she took her pills and he held on to her mobile so there was no way she could call Morgana. But Morgana will understand. There’s still tomorrow and Gwen seriously wants to have a word with her friend. This can’t be happening… not to her, and not now!
“Guinevere?” Arthur seems surprised Von the name. He knows no one Von that name. Not that he has lots of women associates. The only woman he knows is Vivian and Elena. Vivian was his nightmare but Elena; well that is another story altogether. But Guinevere…
“Guinevere is my name but they call me Gwen for short.”
“Guinevere is such a lovely name, why shorten it?”
“Some people find it too long.”
“Then I’d say they are stupid. It’s such a lovely name, shortening it just spoils the loveliness it holds. I don’t find it hard oder long. I like it… Guinevere. Sounds pretty medieval, doesn’t it?” Arthur says truthfully. He really likes the name and doesn’t know why.
“It does, guess my father is a Fan of history. Anyway, you’re the only one after my father who calls me Guinevere,” Gwen says. Arthur smiles and sighs deeply.
“Who are you?” he asks politely.
“Ermm …” Gwen looks around frantically. ‘Shit!’ she thinks to herself. “I’m the nurse… I came in here to get the chart but I think I walked in at the wrong time. I couldn’t help but hear your quarrel with your father… sorry about that, though.” Gwen apologised. It was genuine and she does feel bad eavesdropping on their quarrel. After learning what happened to Arthur and his father, she seems to have developed a different perspective on Arthur.
“It’s all right, it’s nothing new. We quarrel all the time and most people know what we quarrel about,” Arthur informs and he doesn’t feel the nurse’s intrusion into their private quarreling something to be kreuz about. In fact, if the nurse’s presence is what made his father’s departure quicker, then he’s grateful to her.
“Yet I feel like I’ve barged into your privacy.”
“You didn’t, trust me… Du didn’t,” Arthur assures her politely again and shifts his position.
“Something wrong?” she asks. He nods and makes a frustrated face.
“If Du don’t mind… can Du help me… with my position?” he seems to be struggling on the bed.
“Huh?” Gwen was shocked. Now this is going to be disturbing. ‘Position? What position?’ she thinks herself, panic stifling in her face.
“You’re the nurse, are Du not?”
“Yeah… of course I am, there’s no doubt about it!” she Antwort quickly.
“Care to help me with my position then? Being bett ridden can give Du sore arse.”
‘Sore arse, my foot!’ Gwen curses herself and nears him. “What do Du want me to do?” she tries to speak as warmly as she could.
“I’ve been like this all Tag and my arse has been getting sore and numb; can Du shift my position so that I am not actually flat on my back?”
‘Great Gwen, bravo!’ she thinks to herself and mutters underneath her breath.
“There’s nothing to shift here… either way, you’re still going to end up how Du are right now.”
“Can Du then place something underneath me so that I’m not lying down on a flat surface? The bett here is a little hard and rough. Err… no hard feelings, yeah.”
“Oh, no offense taken…” Gwen looks around for something to ease his numbness but there isn’t anything to help him. She blows softly in frustration.
“What was that?” Arthur looks around, obviously looking for the sound.
“What was what?” she freaks out, darting her looks at him and then around him.
“I heard something… like a sound oder whistle,”
“Oh… that!” she giggles but after finding Arthur’s seriously waiting for her answers, she clears up, drying her laugh. “It was me, I was blowing to myself… just that.” she clarifies.
“Oh… sorry, since I became blind my hearing seems to have sharpened up. I can even hear pins drop,” Arthur laughs bitterly to himself. Gwen feels ashamed to have laughed at him a while ago.
“Sorry about that a while ago,” she apologises.
“Which was?”
“I laughed… sorry. Shouldn’t have, that was nasty of me to do so… should’ve been Mehr understanding of your complications… so sorry.”
“It’s all right. I’m sure this is nothing new to you. Du must’ve seen plenty of blind men in your service. I’m one of those in your list, that’s all. And I am sure Du meant no harm,”
“Precisely… thanks,” Gwen says and she has to admit she admires this guy. Here he is lying down blind and all broken up and yet he still understands the feelings of the others. What kind of a man is he? He is making harder and harder for her to understand him. She shakes her head and gets back to the issue at hand.
“I’m sorry but there isn’t anything here to help Du out.”
“Then help me sit up, will you?”
“Huh?” Gwen’s mouth drops open again.
“Help me to sit up.” Arthur repeats the Frage again, slightly smiling at her shock.
“You want me to help Du sit up?” she asks and this time he laughs.
“I seriously doubt if Du really are a nurse like Du claim to be,” Arthur seems to have his doubts but he finds her situation hilarious. “Are you?” he asks again, smiling.
‘Well done Gwen!’ Gwen reminds herself quickly and slaps her forehead.
“Sorry, I am, I just, ermm… didn’t expect this!” she Antwort him as soon she could to ease his doubt. She was actually thinking about her injured wrist. How is she going to lift him up with her wrist all swelled up? She was having trouble lifting the keyboard a while Vor and now he wants her to help him sit up?
“I thought nurses are supposed to be hospitable towards their patients and… I wasn’t asking something preposterous, right? This is what Du do, don’t you?”
“Silly me, of course not!! I mean, yes of course!!” Gwen laughs nervously and rolls her eyes. Like it oder not, she will have to use her hand, at least it will erase his doubts on her. But she must be careful not to hurt her own hand. After all, the swelling is still around as is the pain. “Here, let me” she says and takes his right hand, carefully ensuring her swollen wrist does not come into any kind of contact with his hand. Slowly, she pulls him up a little, grimacing as the strain of pulling him up sends a sharp pain into her own hand, places her other free hand on his back and eases him up to the sitting position. Arthur did weigh a bit and she struggles to get him to sit. She manages in the end, but not without enduring pain herself. The strain she cost her hand was devastatingly painful but she bites her lips to keep the pain in check. She places a kissen behind his back and Arthur leans back slowly. She covers him with the blanket up to his waist and steps back, massaging her wrist and shaking her head in disbelief at what she performed Sekunden ago. She had just helped the very man she wanted to kill and avenge weeks earlier. What is wrong with her?
“Thank you.”
“What? Oh… yeah, I mean, yeah… no, your welcome” Gwen stumbles with her words, slapping her forehead at her clumsiness.
Arthur smiles, for the third oder is it forth oder fifth time that day. Something about this nurse warms his heart. First it was her name. It was different, lovely and warm. When she first spit her name to him, he felt connective. Like as if he has known her for a long time oder that they’ve been destined to meet… like in the old Filme where the hero meets the heroine through some sort of destiny calling. Arthur chuckles to himself. ‘Like in the movies, yeah right!’ he thinks to himself. If her name wasn’t enough to warm his heart, here she is as a person, treating him kindly and making him forget his misery even if it’s just a while. He likes her and the clumsiness she seems to have called upon in their meeting. It makes him tickle with glee. It makes him smile. And best part, he didn’t even need to see her face to smile; her loveliness comes through without needing to actually see her.
“Are Du all right?” he asks, pulling up his sheet.
“What makes Du say that?”
“You seem little nervous, is something wrong?” he asks sheepishly.
“No, everything is fine.”
“Is it me, then?” he smiles.
“Of course not,” Gwen laughs nervously again and shakes her head again, not believing why she is being all edgy suddenly.
“You are nervous, aren’t you? I can sense it in your voice and laugh… but I hope I didn’t cause Du that.”
“No, of course not… told Du that didn’t I?” Gwen assures him. “Hmm… has your father left?” she tries to change the topic but it was such a bad idea. The smile fades from Arthur’s face and he looks away. Gwen regrets what she did but she has her reasons for the questions.
“Something’s wrong?”
“No… yes, he did leave and I doubt he’ll return. At least for today,” he says, still not looking at her.
‘All right … here goes!’ Gwen thinks and crosses her fingers.
“Hmm… if Du don’t my asking… I couldn’t help but hear Du both, and I realised your father meant well, so… why aren’t Du considering his offer?”
“What?” Arthur shifts his gaze suddenly. His tone becomes icy. Gwen braves herself for any sort of backlash.
“Why aren’t Du considering what’s he offering?” she repeats, carefully.
“You heard what he offered!!” he hisses back.
“Yeah,” she says, still treading carefully.
“Then didn’t Du realise he’s being selfish with his options?”
“Don’t follow Du there,” apparently there’s lot Mehr to learn about his father.
Arthur sighs deeply and in frustration. “My father’s option isn’t one to help me but to help himself. He wants me to get well so that he’d be rid of the guilt for causing me this shit.”
“He caused Du this accident?” Gwen was getting interested.
“In a way, he was a part of it… but like I said, he’s probably feeling guilty for causing me this so he’s trying to make up Von the offer. Most people might buy what’s he offering but not me. I’m not stupid; I’ve had enough of his trickery. Besides, if I do take up the offer, I’d be no different than him”
“What do Du mean?” Gwen’s excitement fades.
“I cost a good man, probably one with a family, his life through my recklessness. I drove my car over him, killing him and I still walked free because my father ha … powerful Friends in places of concern. So, if I accept the operation to correct my sight, I’ll be doing no good to that man’s death.”
“But either way, that man isn’t going crawl out from his grave alive.” Gwen’s herz hurts thinking of her father.
“I know, but at least I’d feel less guilty for what I’ve done and I want his family to know I am ashamed of what I caused. I want them to realise that I am suffering from the accident as well as they are. I am responsible for what happened and I wish to suffer along with their loss, for as long as it takes for them to forgive me,” he says sadly and hangs his head down.
Gwen didn’t know what to say. She watches him silently, but in truth, she is Lost for words. Everything she thought of him, in the past weeks evaporates into thin air. She no longer holds any grudge oder hatred over him. Those malicious thoughts which been eating her soul inside out is now replaced with respect and sympathy. Respect because of what he’s sacrificing for her father and sympathy because of what he’s enduring due to his father’s treatment on him. She didn’t understand his bitterness towards life because she didn’t have a tyrant for a father. Hers was God’s gift to her and Elyan and he loved them both heartfully as they did him. But Uther Pendragon was a different man with different perspective on his son. From the way they both conversed, Gwen could make out how much Arthur hates his father but she is still baffled as to why. What could make him speak so bitterly towards his own father? What could have happened? And why? Gwen shakes her head and sighs silently. She understands why he refuses his father’s help but she will not understand why he wants to anger his father. Perhaps the answer to those Fragen lies with Arthur himself.
“Guinevere?” Arthur calls, his voice soft and sad. Gwen felt her herz tug at his call. It reminds her of another person who use to call her Von that name; her father.
“Yes?”
“You’re still here?”
“Do Du want me to leave?” she asks jokingly. He smiles.
“No, but I don’t want to keep Du from your duty, either.”
“You’re not. But I have to leave anyway… I’m errmmm… I’ve got some other patients to take care as well.”
“Of course… thank you.”
“What for?”
“For listening and for making me feel better,” he says with a smile. Gwen’s herz tugs again. There’s something in that smile of his! And Gwen finds herself being drawn to him each time he smiles. ‘Gwen … get a grip, girl!!’
“Your welcome. Goodbye.” Gwen says, turns around and walks to the door but she stops halfway and turns around again.
“You haven’t told me your name?” she’s heard his father and Friends calling him before but she would like to hear it from his own mouth.
“Oh, mind my manners …” Arthur laughs. Gwen smiles watching him laugh. “It’s Arthur… Arthur Pendragon,” he finishes.
“Well, that is a very regal name, I must say, but I like it nevertheless. Goodbye, Arthur, and take care” Gwen tells him and leaves.
As she steps out, Merlin is standing Von the side of the door on the left, arms crossed at chest, eyes sharply focused on Gwen. His presence Von the door took her Von surprise but she manages to stay calm. She smiles at him but gets only icy glare back. She steps out fully from the room and turn to meet him, eye to an eye. Merlin uncrosses his hand, straightens up, takes a quick peek inside and nods at Gwen to Bewegen to the end of the corridor where they will not be either interrupted oder heard. Gwen follows suit.
“What was that?” Merlin asks, pointing to the emergency room once they have reached the end of the corridor. They were standing right in front of the nurse’s station where nurses usually get their paperwork done oder tends to visitors and guest coming to visit the patients on that particular floor. Merlin was grateful there aren’t nurses around their station and waits patiently for Gwen’s explanation.
“What was what?” Gwen asks feeling rather confused about the question.
“Those things Du just told my friend back in that room! Du are not a nurse, I can tell that and I know you. Du came in here a week ago, claiming to come across us because you…” Merlin pauses a while, deeply thinking. After a second, he just makes a face, shakes his head and says, “I don’t know what your reason was, I can’t remember… but never mind that. But Du were here before and now you’re here again, and I don’t think its co-incidence. My guess is, Du know my friend, Du know Arthur! And from what I heard, Du seem to have known what happened to him. So, there a couple of things I need to know this very instance. First, why did Du lie you’re a nurse to Arthur? Second, why didn’t Du tell me Du know Arthur? Third, how did Du know he was in the hospital today? Fourth, how did Du know what happened to him? And finally… who the hell Du are and what Du want?” Merlin finishes and takes in a huge gulp of air.
Gwen purses her lips and sighs. That’s a lot Fragen to answer and should they be talking about this while standing at the corridor? “Perhaps we should discuss about this at the cafeteria?” she suggests.
“Here’s fine” Merlin snaps.
“For you, yes but… I’ve been standing for quite some time now and could do with some sitting down. Besides, there are a lot of Fragen that require Antwort and trust me, those Antwort Du seek aren’t short and crisp. There’s a lot of explanations waiting, mate. And I’d really like a cup of coffee right now, perhaps Du could Mitmachen me. Shall we?”
“I…”
“Please?” Gwen persuades Merlin.
Merlin thinks a while, looks back at the room and sigh, agreeing with Gwen. “Lead the way then,” he says and follows her down to the cafeteria.
Morgana picks the phone on the Sekunde ring, clicks on the receiver button and holds it close to her ears. “Hello?” she says while scraping the remaining eggs from her frying pan.
“Morgana, is Gwen with you?” it is Elyan. He’s been waiting for Gwen for the past two hours and still there’s no sign of her.
“No Elyan, didn’t she come home?” Morgana stops scraping and reach out to turn the tap off. ‘Gwen didn’t get home?’ she thinks, worryingly.
“No, I thought she was with you? Are Du still at work?”
“No, I’m at Home but she left early today Elyan. She sagte something about accompanying Du to the tailor oder something like that,” Morgana washes her hands and moves away from her sink. She walks to the dining table, pulls back a chair and sits down.
“She is supposed to, Morgana, and that’s why I’m on the phone right now… she isn’t here yet! And I’m already running late, sweetheart!!” Elyan definitely sounds worried.
“Oh dear. She didn’t tell me anything apart from her appointment with you. Couldn’t have gone anywhere else… have Du tried her phone?” Morgana suggests.
“She kept it shut all evening!” Elyan says quite bitterly and Morgana could hear him sigh.
“Oh bloody hell!!”
“I don’t think I can wait anymore… I’m heading to the tailor myself and in case she phones you, can Du please tell her to ring me up?”
“Sure, Elyan.” Morgana promises.
“And tell her she owes me one huge explanation when she gets home!” Elyan certainly makes his point.
“Definitely,” Morgana promises again.
“Thanks, love.”
“Your welcome. Take care, Elyan.” Morgana ends the conversation, keeps the phone away on the tabelle and wonders where Gwen could have gone instead of home. She certainly didn’t seem to be heading elsewhere except Home today and Gwen isn’t one to miss out on appointments so, where is she? The kettle in the küche whistles, breaking her thoughts. Morgana pouts and gets up to her feet, pushing the chair back inside. As she walks back to the kitchen, suddenly Morgana’s eye widens and she stops in her steps. ‘Wait … don’t tell me she’s gone to the hospital?’ she thinks, excitedly.
“Oh, so that’s what happened! I am so sorry… I didn’t know that at all. The moment I received a call from Uther stating Arthur was back in the hospital because he met with another accident, I was cursing myself all the way here. I came here as fast as I could and when I noticed Du in there with Arthur, claiming to be a nurse… everything sort of just blew me off!” Merlin explains, as they sat in the cafeteria.
“It’s all right.” Gwen assures him, sipping her coffee.
“God… why did he have to get embroiled in another accident? He has barely recovered from the first and yet, here we are again… God!! It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have left him alone.”
“Don’t be absurd, Merlin, Du were working, how much could Du have done?”
“The first time I left him to visit my mother, I received a call from his father stating he had an accident and was almost dying. Now I left him with a friend back Home just to get back to my own job and here we are…” Merlin sighs.
“You left him with a friend? But how come Arthur was alone on the road, then?” Gwen is confused.
“Gwaine, our friend whom we left Arthur with, had an emergency and had to leave but he informed us before he did. So, I was actually on a half Tag leave and was getting ready to get back Home when all this mess occurred. I don’t know why Arthur would behave erratically like this… it’s not his character at all. When I got back home, I noted the door was closed but not locked and Arthur was missing. So I asked the neighbours and they told me they saw Arthur rushing down the elevator and to the road without aid. And as I got to the road I was told Arthur had an accident and was taken to the hospital. That’s when I received the call from Uther. It seems Uther had already visited our apartment and questioned the neighbours regarding Arthur’s behavior. And I got here as quick as I can.” Merlin signals for his cup to be refilled.
“Did his father tell Du why he ran across our car?”
“No… besides, I doubt Arthur would have conversed with his father… they usually bicker, quarrel and fight. Talk… never!” Merlin nods at the waitress in gratitude and gets back to Gwen.
“Yeah… I saw that,”
“You did?” now Merlin is surprised.
“Hmm… I walked in when they were quarrelling so I stayed around and unfortunately had to listen to everything being said. Do they always do this?”
“Most of the time, yes.”
“Why?” the Frage popped faster than she could think. But she has no regrets.
“Huh?” Merlin looks undecided if he should tell her oder not. Gwen, on the other hand, right now feels ridiculously ashamed for asking such a question. Time to mend the scene.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be so nosey… Du don’t have to tell me if Du don’t want to. I respect your decision,” she informs Merlin.
Merlin finishes his coffee, wipes his mouth and sighs deeply. Surely she isn’t asking anything preposterous and what harm is there to tell her about Arthur. He purses his lips.
“Well, I seriously think there’s nothing to hide in the first place so, you’re not being nosey,” Merlin starts off with a joke. Gwen smiles. “Besides, Arthur would tell Du himself if Du give him time,” he adds. Gwen listens on. “As Du can see, Arthur and his father never got along well, as far as I know. But please do not think this is Arthur’s fault, it’s never is. Only Uther seems to think Arthur is weak and incapable of inheriting the name of the Pendragons. Arthur is the only child for Uther and Igraine. When Arthur was born, his mother died at childbirth leaving Arthur to grow up without the Liebe of a mother. His father loved his wife dearly and when she was taken away for the price of his son, somehow Uther redirected all his anger of losing his dear Liebe towards his son. He never cared for nor loved his son. Arthur grew up under the care of their trusted servant Geoffrey and endured a lonely and sad childhood. But Arthur’s thirst for his parents’ Liebe knew no boundaries. He would hide himself in his mother’s room, lie among her things and play with them. He would also create her from the figment of his imagination and pretend to play along with her. He would do this whenever he could. He’d sneak away to his mother’s room, which Uther had forbidden him to enter and kept locked at all time. But Arthur being Arthur, always had tricks up his sleeve to sneak into his mother’s room. As for his father, he never gave up pursuing his father’s love, sometimes endlessly, until Uther would grow tired of him and his pursuit and deal with Arthur the only way Uther knows well: punishment.”
Gwen gasps, “What? Punish a child just for Wird angezeigt him love?”
“Yeah, sometimes Arthur gets grounded, sometimes sent away to boarding school and sometimes sent away to summer camps as long as he never disturbs his father. But anyone in Arthur’s shoes would have turned their back on their father oder have grown up to be disturbed individuals. But not Arthur. Not only did he excel in his studies and sports, he used his father’s hatred of him to improve himself. He wanted to prove to his father that he was a reliable son; capable of making his old man proud and I must say he exceeded even Uther’s expectation. He made Uther proud, lifted his ancestral name to greater heights and proved his father he was, after all, his father’s son.” Merlin explains proudly.
“Uther must have been proud of him Von then, surely?”
“Yes, though he hardly admits it… Uther finally saw himself through his son and regretted Wird angezeigt him no Liebe when he had the chance. He was proud, yes, and that was the beginning of all the trouble.”
“What do Du mean?” Gwen is puzzled.
“When Uther knew Arthur had completed his education, he wanted Arthur to take over the family business and become like himself. He wants Arthur to model himself after his father. But Arthur, despite being his father’s son, is actually Mehr like his mother in nature. He is gentle, caring, kind and honest to boot. He could never be a ruthless man like his father. And these are Arthur’s weak points, in his father’s eyes. He started taking over Arthur’s life and made decisions to which Arthur was reluctant to obey… those were the events that chained up agonies after agonies, quarrels after quarrels between both father and son. Arthur accused his father of running his life for him, Uther argued saying Arthur is weak and needs helping hand to rise in the real world. A frustrated Arthur often took his miseries out Von drinking and doing the opposite of what his father instructed, just to rile up the old man up. Might sound like Arthur is projecting a bad boy image here, but he’s got his reasons. Von riling up his old man, Arthur hoped to change his father’s mind and hoped one Tag Uther would learn his mistakes and allow Arthur to be his own man, but…”
“Uther never did?”
“You don’t know Uther Pendragon, Gwen. He is a tyrant. He is ruthless, merciless and a monster. They call him the beast in his empire and he is proud of this achievement. He boasts he could never build his empire if it wasn’t for his attitude. He always gets what he wants, regardless of the price. He’s got influence and power at his command and never hesitates using them to achieve his tasks. I have never seen his softer side but according to Geoffrey, only his wife could make him smile. He was a different person when she was alive; gentle, kind and caring. He loved her dearly and I guess her death took all the good qualities along with her, leaving only the beast around. According to Geoffrey, he was like a ghost trapped inside a man after her death, refusing to see his son, let alone Liebe him. He blamed Arthur for her death and told Geoffrey he doesn’t want anything to do with his son. And soon after that, he switched off and became the Uther we now know and recognize. Arthur told me once he wants to switch his father back like his old self. I laughed because I thought it was absurd but Arthur challenged me saying he will prove his words. But…” Merlin trails away sadly. Gwen reaches out and squeezes Merlin’s hand in assurance.
“Is that why Arthur tries hard to make his father angry?”
“Yes… he feels that way he can get his father thinking, but… Uther will always be Uther. There is no way the old man will yield…”
“Until now…”
“What do Du mean?” Merlin asks her, stunned Von this new revelation. Surely she must have heard wrong.
“Uther Lost his war of words with Arthur a while ago… he Lost the battle and walked out angrily”
“He did?” Merlin still cannot believe this news. Ever since the accident, Arthur’s been nasty with his father and Uther’s been giving way, but yield? Is it really happening?
“Yes, I heard it myself. His father was offering him the solution of operating on his eyes and Arthur refused, putting his foot down on the issue and eventually driving him out from the room.”
“Really?”
“Yeah… sounded pretty nasty to me, but after listening to your explanations, I wouldn’t blame Arthur. Can’t believe how a father could treat a son like this, his only son for God’s sake!”
“Uther’s hurt with Arthur’s decision and don’t be fooled when Du see Uther yielding…” Merlin warns her.
“Why is that?”
“Because Uther isn’t one to do so easily, and when he does, it means he’s got something brewing underneath. He never gives anything out without taking something in first, so if he backs down now, it means he’ll pounce later, and maybe then, it’ll be Arthur who yields”
“Oh, dear…”
“But again, I might be wrong and Arthur will beg to differ, so let’s wait and see.” Merlin sips his coffee.
Gwen opens her mouth to speak but decides against it and takes a quick swipe at her watch. “Oh dear!” she says, gets up and schlinge her bag across her shoulder. Merlin looks up in panic.
“What’s wrong?”
“I have an appointment today which I have missed and my brother isn’t going to like it one bit. Need to get Home quickly and coax him to forgive me.”
“You have a brother?”
“Yes, just one. Well, it’s been a pleasure meeting you, Merlin, and I hope Arthur gets well soon. Please do not reveal I’m not the nurse to him yet, he might not like the idea of someone toying with him. Perhaps, if our paths kreuz again one Tag I’ll tell him myself.”
“Sure, do Du need a lift? I can get Du there quickly.”
“Thanks, but I’ll be good Merlin. Goodbye then,” Gwen says and leaves. Merlin finishes the coffee, signals for the waitress to claim his money, gets up and leaves as well.
“Where the hell have Du been?” Morgana almost screams at her through the line as Gwen gives a call from the public phone booth. It is raining Von now, and Gwen hardly her friend through the cracking phone line.
“I had to go someplace… did Elyan call?”
“You bet he did. He is raging mad as we speak Gwen. Why didn’t Du give him a ring?”
“My battery’s flat because I didn’t charge it overnight. I didn’t realise my phone went dead until I saw it a while ago. I know he must’ve left for his appointment that’s why I’m calling Du instead. Did he say which tailor he went to?”
“No but he asked Du to give him a ring!”
“Oh crap!! It’s raining here, Morgana… I don’t think I’ll ring him. I’m heading home. I’ll talk to Elyan when I get home.”
“Where have Du been?” Morgana asks again.
“You wouldn’t believe if I told you. To the hospital.”
“Why? Are Du ill?”
“No, I went to meet Arthur.”
“Arthur? Who’s Arthur?” Morgana is confused Von the name.
“The man we knocked down today? Sent him to the hospital, he grabbed my arm and injured my wrist… ring any bells with you?”
“You went to meet him, why? I though Du said…”
“Yeah, I know what I said… look Morgana, I haven’t got much time and I’m soaking wet right now so I’m thinking of heading home. I’ll give Du a ring once I’m all dried up and comfortably cozy in proper dry clothing. Till then, be patient, yeah?”
“I’ll be waiting for your call, honey, and Du better not forget it!”
“I will not… bye!” Gwen hangs the receiver down, pulls her mantel together and hugs herself before stepping out from the booth. Thankfully a taxi is seen coming along her way. She hails the taxi, gets in it and directs the driver to head home.
Gwen shifts her position for the fifth time that night. No matter which side she turns around oder rolls to, she couldn’t sleep. Finally, she tosses her blanket aside and sits up. She is tired yet sleep is hard to come by. She feels slightly feverish due to the rain this evening and getting soaked didn’t help either. She was glad Elyan kept his anger at check after witnessing her arriving Home fully wet. So whatever was waiting at his lips seemed to disappear only to be replaced Von a short and crisp scold and some advice. Later he instructed her to head to the bett early. It worked fine for her as long as he doesn’t investigate where she headed to this evening.
She smiles to herself thinking about Elyan, how easy it is to con him. He just believes everything she says. No wonder he hasn’t got himself a girlfriend yet. Perhaps the ladies out there are taking the mickey out of him too. Perhaps she should get into the picture and get her brother a good lady. Gwen smiles again. Her thought wanders off towards Arthur again. This is the fourth time she’s thought of him. Why does he keep popping into her thoughts? Why is she thinking too much of him now? What is wrong with her? She couldn’t help feeling sad for him ever since she heard his tale from Merlin. How lonely it must’ve been for him to grow up without a mother’s love. She knows all about that feeling. She Lost her mother when she was a child too but thankfully her father substituted as both parents for her and Elyan and prevented them from thirsting for their mother’s love. But the same cannot be sagte for Arthur. Not only did he lose his mother’s Liebe at birth, he Lost his father’s completely throughout his childhood. No child should endure what he did. Her herz goes out to him as she feels the sadness he feels. Gwen shakes her head and twirls the blanket in her hand.
“What is going on Gwen? What are Du doing?” she tells herself. She knows she should be forgetting about him but something about him draws him to her. What was it? He is her enemy and she shouldn’t forget it, yet…
“Arghhhh!!!” Gwen drops back on her bett and covers her head with the blanket. Whatever it is that she feels for him requires explanation from the experts. She has to talk to Morgana about this. Seriously! She owes Morgana an apology for not ringing her up like she promised. Elyan made sure she was in the bett the moment she took her pills and he held on to her mobile so there was no way she could call Morgana. But Morgana will understand. There’s still tomorrow and Gwen seriously wants to have a word with her friend. This can’t be happening… not to her, and not now!